To ensure an effective system of quality patient care and coordinated emergency medical response by planning, implementing and evaluating an effective emergency medical services system including fire department and public ambulances, prehospital providers and hospitals, including specialty care hospitals, such as trauma and cardiac care hospitals.

On August 15, 2014, paper applications were discontinued and the online application process was implemented. Select the credentialing portal link when applying for accreditation, authorization, and certification.

Submersion (Drowning) Season is Here - Early

Death caused by submersion (drowning) accidents thru June of 2015 have already exceeded the death statistics for the calendar year of 2014 for San Bernardino County. There have been 6 adult submersions, 4 were fatalities and 16 pediatric submersions, 3 were fatalities and 1 is severely neurologically impaired. Riverside County is reporting similar trends.

On behalf of the San Bernardino Drowning Prevention Network and in collaboration with ICEMA, we would like to encourage everyone in the EMS community to take every opportunity to educate the public on drowning prevention and water safety. In addition, remind EMS providers or hospital personnel that have responded or received submersion patients to complete the Submersion Incident Report Form (SIRF) and submit it to Michelle Parker at mparker@llu.edu. Here is the link to the SIRF: http://www.sbcounty.gov/icema/main/ViewFile.aspx?DocID=1797

Thank you for all that you do.

ICEMA recently received three achievement awards for innovative and money-saving programs from the National Association of Counties (NACo). The awards were for the following programs:

Medical and Health Operational Area Coordinator (MHOAC) Program: The program provides detailed guidance to the Inland Counties Emergency Medical Agency , Department of Public Health, and Department of Behavioral Health staff responding to medical and public health emergencies. It follows the principles of the Incident Command System, the National Incident Management System, and California’s Standardized Emergency Management System. The MHOAC Program is based on guidance described in the California Public Health and Medical Emergency Operations Manual adopted in July 2011 by the California Department of Public Health and the California Emergency Medical Services Authority.

Continuation of Specialty Care Program: Trauma, stroke and heart attack represent a significant consequence to health and remain three of the top 10 causes of serious injury and death in the United States. Considering the diversity of the geography and the remoteness of many areas of the county, accessing specialty medical care for specialized treatment is often difficult. The ICEMA Continuation of Specialty Care Program is designed to deliver these patients to a hospital with specialized services since rapid and definitive care at a specialty care center often means the difference between survival, lifelong disability or death. The improvement in time to treatment reduces morbidity and mortality and improves the quality of services provided to residents and visitors.

EMS Credentialing Portal: ICEMA implemented a paperless online EMS Credentialing Portal to complete credential applications from any location at any time. Emergency medical services personnel are credentialed by ICEMA to practice in San Bernardino, Inyo and Mono counties. The credentialing process required personnel to visit ICEMA’s office during normal business hours to submit a paper application and payment, which took about an hour. The online process improved efficiency by allowing staff to review and issue new credentials in less than 15 minutes. The process ultimately reduced costs and enhanced overall customer satisfaction.

This year, San Bernardino County won 46 Achievement Awards, more than any other county in the nation.

ICEMA EMS Credentialing Portal- On August 15, 2014, ICEMA fully implemented its new online EMS Credentialing portal and no longer accept paper applications for accreditation, authorization, and certification. The EMS Credentialing portal can be accessed by selecting the link ICEMA EMS Credentialing Portal.

ICEMA BUSINESS HOURS CHANGE- Effective Monday, July 13 2015, ICEMA will be altering its business hours. The new hours will be from 7:30 am to 4:30 pm. EMS Credentialing (accreditation/certification/authorization) hours will be 7:30 am to 4:00 pm. ICEMA believes the change in hours will better serve the EMS community by accommodating early morning applicants.